Deputy Attorney General of Minnesota, 1999-2003. Solicitor General of Minnesota 2003-present. Swanson was 35 years old as of November of 2002.

Lori Swanson is making her first bid for political office. She is a longtime colleague of the incumbent Attorney General Mike Hatch. Swanson worked with Hatch in private law practice, and when he became AG in 1999 he joined his staff. Swanson served as deputy attorney general until 2002, when she was appointed solicitor general.

As solicitor general, Swanson is responsible for various civil actions undertaken by the Attorney General's Office on behalf of the public. Hatch reportedly encouraged her to run for office after the DFL-endorsed candidate, Matt Entenza, dropped out suddenly.

Unlike her two main DFL competitors, former U.S. Rep. Bill Luther and State Sen. Steve Kelley, Swanson has little name recognition and faces a tough fight to win the Sept. 12 primary.